Description
The Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program was created in response to large-scale wildfires in the Western U.S. Because of a lack of native seed, in 2001 Congress directed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to establish a native plant material program and recommended that federal and non-federal partners coordinate efforts through the Plant Conservation Alliance established in 1994 (House Report 106-914). The Plant Conservation Program provides leadership in identifying, maintaining, and restoring Western native plant communities on public lands. Public lands contain a diversity of wildlife that need habitat of native plant communities comprised of over 50 ecoregions across BLM administered lands. Each ecoregion contains native plants that have adapted to those environments. The Program will continue to work with agencies and partners to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the plant program. Into the future, the BLM would continue to work with partners to focus on more diverse forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitats and rehabilitation after wildfires.The Mt/Daks BLM has opportunities to work with partner organizations to accomplish goals of the BLM Plant Conservation & Restoration Program that include, but are not limited to, such things as:- Support habitat management efforts to restore keystone wildlife and game species habitats and increase on-the-ground project work to reduce the threats to sage grouse, mule deer, and other sensitive species in high priority habitats. - Work with growers to continue to develop genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration and reclamation. - Support studies to improve the effectiveness of conservation restoration efforts to include, but not be limited to, plant ecological and ecophysiological studies, seed bank persistence, plant propagation and development of agronomic production practices, and trait and/or seed source evaluations as well as seeding treatment and tool development via partners, State Offices and Eco-regional Plant Conservation and Restoration Programs. - Support pollinator studies and projects that increase the knowledge and nexus to the importance of native plant communities and pollinators to restoration durability and ecological function. - Monitor, protect, increase understanding and restore habitat that supports more than 1,700 rare plant species, more than 400 of which are found exclusively on BLM lands. These plants are integral ecological components of wildlife habitat often providing important forage and habitat structure. - Work with partners to implement priority species conservation actions. - Assist BLM programs such as Fuels and Emergency Stabilization & Restoration in restoring public lands and integrating more wide spread use of native plant materials. The BLM manages these resources and other vegetation management activities in cooperation with states, tribes, other federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.- Expand public education programs and outreach to include, but not be limited to, development of information bulletins, handbooks, webinars, and apps., that also increase the Citizen Science nexus with BLM and partners.In 2019, the Mt/Daks BLM is focusing work in areas to facilitate meeting the priorities of the Administration, Secretary, Congressional appropriations, and the Bureau. Accessibility to native plant materials is crucial for the restoration of keystone wildlife habitats. Healthy habitats will lead to expanded recreational access, and hunting and fishing opportunities (Secretarial Order 3347 and 3356), improved habitat for western big-game winter range and migration corridors (Secretarial Order 3362), and recovery of lands damaged by wildfire (Secretarial Order 3372).Program Strategic Goals:- Restoring or improving wildlife habitat or reducing threats to habitat or species;- Developing genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration;- Inventory and prioritization of plant populations;- Implementing and assessing restoration efforts through monitoring;- Collaborating with farmers and conservationists to increase BLM Stock and Foundation seed amounts to use on larger Seed Increase IDIQ contracts so that commercial availability of genetically diverse, locally sourced seed for restoration, rehabilitation and reclamation projects is increased at a larger and provenance specific scale;- Initiating or refining Source Identified Seed Certification programs via partnerships with state seed certifying agencies;- Inventorying, monitoring and restoring rare plant species and their associated communities to include development of conservation strategies/plans that include best management strategies and reporting on the condition and trend of rare plant species and their habitat;- Increasing and improving pollinator habitat; - Expanding public education programs and outreach; and- Database creation, and management and analyses, including geospatial, collaborative web service or support and training.